Fake amendment to strip-club law takes shot at Ohio representatives

Sunday

May 20, 2007 at 4:06 AM

by Marc KovacCapital Bureau ChiefColumbus -- Rep. Bob Hagan, who joined 23 other Democrats in voting against Substitute Senate Bill 16 May 16, considered offering an amendment to the strip-club bill approved by the Ohio House. The Youngstown Democrat relayed its contents -- new restrictions aimed at lawmakers -- during the floor debate that day. The amendment called for more rules, dealing with "misconduct regarding a legislator," to be inserted into the bill: * No lobbyist shall touch a member of the General Assembly. * A member of the General Assembly shall be home by midnight when the General Assembly is in session. * No person shall serve alcohol to a member of the General Assembly from 1 a.m. Tuesday through 1 a.m. Friday while the General Assembly is in session. The amendment states any lawmakers found guilty of breaking those rules would be subject to a first-degree misdemeanor -- the same penalty outlined in Sub. SB 16 for patrons touching certain parts of a strippers' uncovered body. "We have not made this a better state with this bill," said Hagan, who ultimately withdrew the amendment. "It's absurd, and we're actually looking at ourselves and saying we're doing good for the state of Ohio." Marc Kovac is the Dix Newspapers Capital Bureau chief. E-mail him at mkovac@dixcom.com.